My friend Heather Powers, one of the masterminds behind this exciting event, asked me to remind you that the 2010 Bead Cruise is booking right now.  The cruise sets sail on January 17th, leaving Port Canaveral, Florida for seven nights of non-stop beady fun!

You can find out all the information on booking at the site link above, and you should also visit the Bead Cruise blog, where you’ll learn more about the instructors, the projects, the cruise ship, the sites to come…

Always available, anytime day or night, whatever suits you, even in your jammies!  Don’t forget that there are online ways to learn jewelry skills to improve your techniques this year   My favorite place to start is Tammy’s list of e-courses on About.com’s Jewelry Making site.

The Innovative Beads Expo
Shows and classes in the northeast only. Click on Beading Classes
Bead&Button Show
Milwaukee, WI. Click on Classes
Best Bead Shows (Crystal Myths)
Tucson, AZ. Click on Bead Shows. Bead show classes are linked in the right sidebar
To Bead True Blue
Tucson, AZ.   Click on Workshop List
Down the Street Bead Shows
Southeast locations only. Click on Class sign up page
Puget Sound Bead Festival
Puget Sound, WA. Click on Classes
Gem and Jewelry Show (JOGS)
Tucson, AZ. Click on Classes
Intergalactic Bead and Jewelry Shows
Click on Classes
International Gem and Jewelry Shows
Free beginner workshops with Wendy Simpson Conner
Click …read more

Every year, I feel that I need to add some new techniques to my repertoire. I haven’t quite decided what it’s going to be this year, although I’m leaning towards BronzClay. I hope you’ll take this challenge as well, and pick something new to work on, and maybe even to master, in 2009.
To help us get going on our quest, I contacted some folks to teach classes and workshops, and asked them to share their teaching schedules with you. In addition, we’ll be looking at other ways of gaining new jewelry making and beading skills all throughout …read more